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[LINK] Newest album – Transformation – Press Release – Tiny Human, 2023 [LINK]

Grant Swift’s unique “One Man Band” has made him one of the most sought-after musicians for events in the Eastern United States. In 2023, he completed over 130 contracts for private and public clients, including international corporate partners, concert halls, non-profits, and private individuals.1

Grant performs nearly every genre of Western music. His musical education began in Classical choral music at the age of 6 under the guidance of renowned music director Charles Dodsley Walker, and evolved into an adolescence of writing hundreds of pop songs with Houston based songwriter Andy Macadelic. HuffPost called their musical project The Candy Apples2 one of “5 Must-See Indie Summer Concerts in NYC”.3

“Weaving irresistible pop hooks with an inward search for meaning.”

– Campbell, Caleb. Under The Radar Magazine. 2021.

Of his album First Elephant, Under The Radar Magazine writes, “Swift displays a deft hold on potent pop melody.”4 The album’s singles were nationwide adds on College and Community radio stations and NACC charts. The single “Sunshine” was a favorite of Baltimore’s public radio station, WTMD 89.7 FM, and was spun over 100 times in 2021.5 The homemade “official” music video made fans over at V13.6

Swift is a New York City boy and the son of a preacher. Born in Manhattan, formed in the tri-state, and educated in the Bronx, he currently hails from Brooklyn. By deploying his eclectic training in Baroque and Classical music and drawing deftly from the palette of the R&B, Psychedelic Rock, Jazz, and Pop he played growing up, Swift crafts music that “brilliantly recreates a modern mashup sound” (Impose).7

While studying at Fordham University, Swift served as the Music Director of ICCA Semi-Finalists, The Fordham Ramblers (Fordham University’s original all-male acapella group). As he earned a full double major BA in Music Composition and Philosophy, Swift’s characteristically intricate vocal arrangements led the group to their first Quarterfinal placement.

With longtime songwriting partner Andy Macadelic, and using his 2nd surname “Glidden”, Grant wrote, performed and engineered Mac/Glidden’s debut psychedelic-folk-rock album, Fall Into The Dark, (2017).8 Their music video for the song “Mountains,”9 directed and animated by interdisciplinary artist Laurie Berenhaus, was an official selection at Sidewalk Film Festival, Indie Memphis Fest, and Leeds International Film Festival, among others.

Later that year, Grant had the honor of being invited by the late, prodigious, two-time Emmy Award winning Music Director for Saturday Night Live, Katreese Barnes10 to perform in her home for her live stream concert series, Welcome 2 My House. Barnes wrote orchestral arrangements of Mac/Glidden songs for the concert and provided a full backing band.11, 12  Barnes said, “Grant and Andy are keepers of the classic Music flame. It was a pleasure to work with them.”

While performing in March of 2020 Swift contracted SARS-CoV-2 and tested positive for COVID-19, when there were still fewer than 1000 official cases in NYC. During a harrowing 3 week in-home recovery, Swift wrote and recorded a 2-song album about his varying perspectives on the pandemic, Fear and Love in the Time of Corona, (2020).13

Headshot
State College, PA, 2021
Brooklyn, 2022, © Robert Abrams
Brooklyn, 2022, © Robert Abrams
Portrait, 2018
Portrait 2, 2018

1.↩    Reviews of Wedding Wire Couples’ Choice and GigSalad Top Performer Award Winning One-Man Band

2.↩    VIDEO – The Candy Apples, Jumpin’ Jack Flash – Acoustic Recording

3.↩    Huffington Post (2014). 5 Must-See Indie Summer Concerts in NYC

4.↩    Under The Radar Magazine (2021). Premiere: Grant Swift Shares Debut Album First Elephant

5.↩    WTMD 89.7 FM (2021). Top 89 Songs of 2021

6.↩    V13 (2021). Grant Swift’s Latest Music Video is Overflowing with “Sunshine” [Premiere]

7.↩    Impose Magazine (2018). Mac/Glidden with the track “Politician”

8.↩    AUDIO – Mac/Glidden’s Music Page

9.↩    VIDEO – Mountains (Official Music Video), by Mac/Glidden

10.↩    The Independent (2019). Katreese Barnes: Saturday Night Live musical director known for flair and versatility

11.↩    VIDEO – Mac/Glidden Sing “Traveler” on Welcome 2 My House

12.↩    VIDEO – Mac/Glidden Sing “The Morning Light” on Welcome 2 My House

13.↩    AUDIO – Grant Swift’s “Fear and Love In the Time of Corona”